About Us
Our mission at Atmosphere Minerals is simple; grow community and a deeper connection between us and our planet, through the extraordinary world of minerals and meteorites.
We focus on sourcing rare and unique minerals, impactites, meteorites... from new finds to old collection pieces and make them available at the best prices possible, for you. Whether you're a new crystal enthusiast, educator, or a seasoned collector.
We continue building longterm relationships with trusted mineral sources. Supporting the local miners, rural mining villages, meteorite hunters and small businesses in the mineral and meteorite community is very important to us. We may be individuals spread out across the globe but we are also a community of many small businesses and people, working together and supporting each other. We couldn't do this without each other, or you.
We began Atmosphere Minerals with the hope of doing something we truly love as our full-time job... and the goal of supporting others while doing so.
About Us
In 2005, we began as a small jewelry design business, formerly Modern Bohemian. Over the years we evolved to include our passion for meteorites and mineral specimens... and Atmosphere Minerals was established.
We are a family owned mineral and meteorite business, located in sunny Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is home of the world's largest gem show, the Tucson Gem Show, held every year during January-February. Gem and mineral dealers, wholesale buyers, collectors and enthusiasts come from across the globe to meet, buy, sell and trade here in Tucson.
We're members of the TGMS, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, and the University of Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum. Our passion is exploring and discovering Earth's most beautiful natural art pieces, gems, crystals, minerals, tektites, meteorites... and sharing these extraordinary natural treasures with our community and crystal collectors around the world.
Atmosphere Minerals founder/Mineral Photographer
Christine Kobzeff
Crystals, minerals and astronomy have been a lifelong passion for as long as I can remember. I got my first crystal, Amethyst, at a flea market when I was 6 years old. At an early age I started going to the library, browsing the earth and space science section. I would checkout the same mineral books, over and over again so I could study the minerals. I've been fascinated with earth/space science and obsessed with minerals ever since.
I grew up in a small town on the Oregon coast, spending most of my free time outdoors in nature, exploring our rainforests, beaches, rivers, creeks and sand dunes. I was very interested in earth and space science and had a drive and desire to always be learning, combined with never-ending curiosity and an excitement for natural treasures. Growing up my family didn't have money, so building a collection by purchasing items wasn't an option. Instead I was hunting in nature for my own interesting finds, such as Obsidian arrowheads. At 19, I headed out on my own into the world and moved 3,000 miles away to the Hawaiian Islands, Maui became my home for the next 17 years. During that time I met my husband, Michael, we traveled and backpacked through 7 countries. I started my business originally as a jewelry designer, handcrafting jewelry, wire-wrapping crystals, stones and fossils. We setup at local markets and events, selling and wholesaling jewelry on Maui for 10 years.
In 2017, we felt inspired to relocate to the mainland but we wanted to be somewhere warm and sunny. We'd been traveling to the Tucson gem shows over the years and I had always loved the desert, so we chose Tucson, Arizona to be our new home. We arrived on the mainland in Summer, just in time to race over to Glendo, Wyoming to watch the Total Solar Eclipse in August, 2017. After getting settled here in Tucson, we began expanding our business with more focus on crystal and mineral specimens. We're now able to be more involved in the gem and mineral shows, closer to our connections and we can offer even more minerals and meteorites!
Co-founder/Sales
Michael Kobzeff
I was born and raised in gold country, in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. I grew up exploring old mines and treasure-hunting along the Cosumnes river for rocks and fossils. I've always been fascinated with minerals and unusual stones. In the early 2000s, I moved to Maui, Hawaii and met Christine. I'm a carpenter and home builder by trade but I started helping Christine at shows and events. In January 2007, we went to the Tucson gem show for the first time, we had a booth space at Electric Park (now the Kino gem show). Experiencing the Tucson gem shows was overwhelming and exciting. I knew I had to be in this mineral business.
Gallery
Clarkdale, AZ, Mingus Gem Show
Prescott Valley Gem Show, AZ.
RMGM Mineral and Fossil Show at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, 2024.
Flagg Mineral Foundation Gem & Mineral Show 50th Anniversary, Mesa, AZ
Our pop-up booth at Apache Junction Mineral Show, Mesa, AZ
Meeting up with our South African friend in 2023 and this 4.5 billion year old Gibeon meteorite from Namibia, 1.7kg. Originally acquired and exported in the mid-90s. Its changed hands a few times, now it's our turn to preserve this spectacular meteorite specimen. Much love to our friend here, unfortunately this was his last time attending the Tucson gem show.
Thank you for supporting our small family-owned business, we're able to support other small businesses and continue sharing the exciting world of minerals and meteorites because of you.
Thank you, we appreciate you!
Christine and Michael Kobzeff
Atmosphere Minerals